Suction dredge-head.



.- Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 11 HIT J. REID.

sucnow DREDGE HEAD. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. l9l3. RENEWED NOV- 9. I917. LQB fiG Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J.v REID.

SUCTION DREDGE HEAD.

QPPLICATION FILED OCT-25.1913. RENEWED NOV. 9, i917.

Patented Apr. 23,1918;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"Fig? awvwto'n wwmepwo' J. REID.

SUCTION DREDGE HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, l9l3 RENEWED NOV. 9, I917.

pr. 23, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented A I. REID.

SUCTION DREDGE HEAD. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. I9I3- RENEWED NOV. 9. I9I7- Patented A r. 23,191&

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

JOHN REID, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

$UCTION DREDGE-HEAD.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN REID, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Whitehall Building, 17 Battery Place, in the city of New York, State of New York, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Dredge-Heads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The invention relates to improvements in suction dredge heads as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel means employed whereby the head is sunk into the sand or other material by the action of a burrowing member.

The objects of the invention are to devise a head that will insure a regular and proper feed to the suction pipe and thereby increase the eiliciency of the dredge, to do this in a simple and economical manner, and to bring the operation of the head more within the control of the operator.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view showing the dredge head and suction pipe broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view in which the upper part represents a cross sectional view part way through the head as illustrated in F ig. l on the line CD, and the lower part of the said figure shows the head on the line A- B in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of a portion of the burrowing member.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the dredge head and a portion of the suction pipe showing a modified form of burrowing member.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device as illus trated in Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a variation in the form of burrowing member.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the burrowing member from the bottom as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line EF in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the burrowing members illustrated in Fig. 6 from the interior. I

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of a por- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, ri id. Renewed November 9, 1917. Serial No. 201,185.

111 F ig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective detail of another form of burrowing member.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of same.

Fig. 13 is a detail showing another form,

Fig. 14- is a plan view of the latter.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

In dredges of the hydraulic type in which suction pipes carried outside of the dredge hull are employed o suck up the material to be handled, efforts are made by the fitting of special heads or nozzles on the lower ends of the suction pipes, to assist the suction action by grabbing or raking up the material to be dredged before the suction forces actupon it, and also in more recent forms of this appliance to limit the amount of the water pumped with the material and thus to avoid loss of power employed in pumping superfluous water and also loss of dredged material through the inevitably large overflow from the settling hoppers. For example, in hydraulic dredges of the trailing suction type, when the stern or bottom is split to permit of a heavy girder suction arm being fitted, it is possible to employ a very large and heavy cast steel suction head which may be as wide as 16 feet, forming a very powerful cutting or plowing mechanism which collects the material to be dredged and cuts through tough materials, and which by means of batlies and side cutting plates buries itself in the material and excludes much superfluous water which suctions would otherwise have to deal with. lVhile such appliances prove very efficient in soft or free material, it is quite otherwise when very hard packed sand has to be handied, especially if the sand surface is uneven, or pocketed or in sloping or raised banks, or channel or river bottoms and sides. In that case the broad dredge head cannot bury itself and being run over an uneven surface, the surrounding water gains free access to the interior of the head and the results are not very difierent from those of a dredge with open suction pipes. Experience shows that it is most important for success in such conditions (1). That the suction head should be narrow and not dependent on its size or weight for its hold on the material and its power to bury its cutting edge in same.

tion of the burrowing members illustrated (2). That means should be provided by which a burrowing action can be provided at the suction head cutting edge.

That the burrowing member must be under the control of the dredge master, as lso ready means of admitting water through valves or pump pressure mechanism to the interior of the suction nozzle.

In my invention I use a cast steel suction head of about the same average breadth at the cutting end as the girder arm which carries the suction pipes. Thi prevents the head from being accidentally removed from contact with the material to be dredged by the rolling of the dredge or the passage of the head over an uneven surface. That is to say, I design my suction nozzle to be of such dimensions as to enable it to easily penetrate the material of the bottom and to enable it also as the dredge forces ahead to remain in close contact with the bottom,

and to prevent any sudden inrush of water.

as would occur where the nozzle is so wide as to raise one side or both from the bottom in passing over uneven surfaces or in failing to penetrate satisfactorily so as to close the suction orifices. I do not make any effort to bite into the surface with the cutting edge of the orifice, as for example in the way that a dipper dredge bucket would do, my whole efiort being rather directed to bringing the lips of the suction orifice into fair contact with the surface of the material and at such a convenient depth as will insure a steady and consistent stream of material of suitable density for transmission through dredge pumps and piping. Experience in the'art shows that with sand this is of great importance and that great care must be taken to prevent not only too dilute an admixture, but even more too thick a flow possibly resulting in a sand jam in the discharge pipes.

In my invention I attach to the outer end of the suction pipe or girder arm containing the suction pipe a nozzle which in a moderately large dredge would be about five or six feet wide and approximately of roller or cylindrical form in its section in a fore and aft vertical plane through the center line of the vessel. From the surface of the roller or cylindrical head which would come into contact with the material when the head is lowered to the sea bottom I remove a parallel strip which may be from 2 O to 2' 6 wide in a fore and aft direction and about the width of the head transversely. This will form the opening in contact with the bottom and means are provided by which the position of the opening can be rotated around the center of the roller through a few degrees either way so as to bring it to a position coinciding with different inclination of the dredge arm as the dredging depth varies.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the head preferably of elongated form though it may be made of any shape or any size. Said head is here shown. as partly cylindrical having the ends 2 and a longitudinal opening forming a mouth 3 through the cylindrical portion thereof in the lower side. Said head communicates through the opening 4 with the suction pipe 5, though it must be understood that there may be more than one opening through said suction pipe if desired.

6 is a wedge shaped piece of tubing between the suction pipe 5 and the head 1, and this insures the adjustability of the head, for different sizes of wedge shaped pieces may be used according to the particular work for which the dredge is to be employed, consequently the angular position of the head in relation to the suction pipe may be adjusted for each job.

It may be here mentioned that the head is preferably made with an annular row of holes 7 in each end surrounding the shaft orifices 8 for the introduction of water into the head when necessary.

9 i a shaft extending through the shaft orifices 8 and fixedly secured to said ends 2, said shaft having the hollow 10 and the outlets 11 from said hollow.

12 is a water pipe connected to the ends of the shaft 9 and with a suitable water supply, and adapted to feed water as desired through the hollow shaft 9 into the head 1.

13 i a sleeve journaled on the shaft 9 extending between the ends 2 and forming part of the frame 142, said frame carrying the guide members 15 adapted to travel on the inner cylindrical portion of the wall. of the head 1 adjacent to the mouth 3, said guides extending if required the full length of the head 1 and supported by the arm 16 also forming part of the frame 14.

17 is a rocker arm having the sections 18 rigidly secured to the frame 14. and the section 19 with the slot 20 therethrough at the upper end thereof, said rocker arm being fixedly mounted on the sleeve 13 preferably in the centre thereof.

21 is a hydraulic cylinder having suitable piston and a piston rod 22 secured to the section 19 of the rocker arm in the slot 20. thus providing hydraulic means for operating the rocker arm 17 and consequently reciprocating the frame 1 1.

23 are plates having the holes 24 corresponding to the holes 7 and normally out of register with said holes 7, but adapted to be brought into register with said holes 7 on an emergency stroke of the piston in the cylinder 21, thus allowing water through the holes 7 only at the will of the dredge master.

25 is a burrowing member shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as a form of grid, having the fore and aft blades 26 and the transverse blades 27, the latter being preferably made like a webbetween the fore and aft blades 26, said fore and aft blades 26 terminating in the flanges 28.

The blades 26 are are shaped on the under side and extend fore and aft following what would be the shape of the head if the mouth 3 was not made in the under side. Thus it will be seen that the burrowing member will be the first partto reach the sand or other material thereby making its way into the sand, in other words digging a hole in the same manner that one might do with the fingers of the hand, so that the casing of the head at the edges of the mouth 3 is properly embedded and the free water excluded.

30 are guides at the ends of the head and flanking the mouth 3.

The shaft 9 has been shown as hollow,

having outlets from said hollow. These out.-

lets preferably lead to the rocker arm 17 which may also be hollow and communicate with holes in the guides 15 and from them to the blades 26, finding egress from said blades by the small jet holes 31 said blades of course being hollow for this purpose.

This description-of the egress of the water is merely to show one way of bringing it to the burrowing member, though it must be understood that it may be done in any suitable way. The main feature of this part (f the invention is to get water to relieve the mouth of the head in the sand, that is to say it is very common in this work for the heads to choke occasionally during the operation of the suction, and consequently it is necessary to blow the material about a bit and at the same time thin it.

34 is a frame supporting the cylinder 21 and itself secured to the arm supporting the suction pipe 5 or to the head 1 as may be more convenient. The cylinder 21 is secured to said frame so that it can be adjusted to suit the size of wedge piece inserted between.

the head and suction pipe.

In Figs. 4 and 5 another form of the invention is shown, in which 35 is the head connected to the suction pipe by the section 36.

3-7 is a shaft extending across the head adjacent to the mouth thereof rigidly secured in the lugs 38.

39 are blades pivotally secured on the shaft 37, said blades being suitably beveled in order to be more efficient for digging operations.

T0 is a shaft connected to the blades 39 adj acent to the upper edges of said blades and used for reciprocating said blades on their supporting shaft 37.

l-l is a hydraulic cylinder slutably secured to the frame l2 having the piston rod as projecting therefrom and joined to the shaft 40 by the connecting rod 44.

4-.5 is a water pocket extending across the head adjacent to the mouth thereof and connected to a suitable water supply, said water pocket supplying water to facilitate the operation of the blades 39. i

This form of the invention is intended t accomplish the same result as the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that is to say the blades 39 burrow in the sand or other material and sink the head 35, and it is largely a question of circumstances as to which form is preferable, one being suitable for one class of work and the other for another class of work In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive another form of the same invention is shown, in which 46 is the head having themouth 47, said head be ing substantially cylindrical in form and having the ends 48.

49 are curved angle bars rigidly secured to the ends 48 adjacent to the mouth 47 and forming guides for the burrowing member.

50 is a rocker arm substantially similar in form to the rocker arm 17.

51 is the reciprocating part of the burrow ing member having the sides 52 slidably arranged under the angle bars 49. The ends 53 form guides sliding on the inside wall of the cylindrical portion of the head 46. The transverse blades 5-4- are divided into the teeth 55 by the cuts 56 extending upwardly from the under side, said blades fifbeing rigidly connected with the sides 52.

57 is a frame similar to the frame 1 and rigidly secured to the ends 53.

58 is the fixed part of the burrowing member and is formed of the blades 59 extending through the cuts 56 preferably made in the form of teeth, said blades beingrigidly secured to the othe side of the head 4C6 adjacent to the mouth 47. The blades 59 are preferably hollow and connected to the water pocket 60, said water pocket being connected to a suitable water supply adapted to force water into said pocketand through said pocket into said blades. and out through suitable water jet holes.

In the operation of this invention it will be readily understood from the description of the parts in detail that in the one case, that is Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the burrowing memher is of one piece and moves in the sand with both transverse and the fore and aft plates traveling the same way, but in Figs. 6 to 10 the fore and aft plates are fixed and the transverse plates alone move, that is to say reciprocate, and this has an excellent burrowing effect for the fixed plates continue reaching down into the loose sand burrowed by thereciprocating transverse blades or plates.

The salient feature throughout is the burrowing membe for sinking the head in the sand. This burrowing member is assisted by a water supply under pressure and the two together produce a throbbing effect i n passage and et holes,

The bars are rigidly secured to the head ateach end and communicate with a water supply.

' The operation of this form of burrowing member is similar to those already described, particularly that form illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive.

In Figs. 13 and 14: another form of the invention is shown in whichthe burrower 67 is part of a frame 68 fulcrumed at the ends of the head 69, said frame being operated from the arm 70 connected with the piston rod 71.

VVhatI claim'is 1. In a suction dredge head, the combination with a suction member having an enlarged head at the endthereof and a contracted mouth through the under side of said head, of blades permanently situated at said mouth, said blades operating below said mouth and continuously excavating a bed for the lips of said mouth in the material to be dredged, and guards at each end of said head extending below the lips of said mouth and closing in said blades from the ends.

2. In a suction dredge head, a casing having a suitable mouth and a suitable outlet, central shaft orifices in theend thereof and circular rows of holes surrounding said shaft orifices and forming water inlets to said casing, a burrowing member in said mouth, a frame secured to said burrowing member, a shaft mounted in said shaft orifices and carrying said frame, blades having corresponding holes to said water inlets mounted on said shaft at each end and normally out of register with said water inlets, a rocker arm adapted to move said burrowing member and to bring said holes in said blades into register with said water inlets, and means for operating said rocker arm.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a head formed of a substantially cylindrical casing having a mouth extending along the under side thereof and an outlet through the upper portion, a

crescent shaped burrowing member having blades forming teeth adapted to work into the material to be dredged and guides at the ends thereof sliding on the inner wall of the cylindrical part of said head, a frame having arms secured to said guides, a shaft carrying said frame, and a rocker arm suitably operated and adapted to reciprocate said frame.

1. In a suction dredge head, a suction member, a head of substantially drum shape forming a chamber of comparatively large dimensions in respect to said suction member, said chamber having its front wall and rear wall between the end walls extend inwardly and terminate in lips at the edge of an opening relatively shortened fore and aft and forming a contracted mouth, burrowing blades rigid with said head and burrowing blades secured to a frame having radial extensions swinging with a shaft journaled and operated in the ends of said head.

5. In a suction dredge head, a suction member, a head formed by a chamber of comparatively large dimensions in respect to said. suction member, said chamber having its front wall and rear wall between the end walls extend inwardly and terminate in lips at the edge of an opening relatively shortened fore and aft and forming a contracted mouth, a bellying burrowing member having transverse and fore and aft blades, one set of blades moving through the other set, means for supporting said blades from said head across said mouth and means for operating said burrowing member.

6. In a suction dredge head, a suction member, a tube form of head extending across said suction member and communicating therewith and having its ends closed in and a comparatively narrow slit opening along the under side forming a mouth, a plurality of fixed blades across said mouth, plurality of blades moving through the aforesaid blades, a frame carrying said blades and journaled in the ends of said head and swinging in a path concentric therewith, and means for imparting to said frame and blades a reciprocatory motion.

7. In a suction dredge head, a suction member, a tube form of head extending across said suction member and communicating therewith and having its ends closed in and a comparatively narrow slit opening along the under side forming a mouth, a burrowing member in grid form having projections forming two sets of blades one set movable and the other fixed across said mouth, a plurality of rocker arms carrying said movable set of blades and journaled in the ends of said head and means for imparting motion to said rocker arms.

8. In a suction dredge head, a suction member, a tube form of head extending across said suction member and communieating therewith and having its ends closed in and a comparatively narrow slit opening along the under side forming a mouth, a burrowing member having fixed blades rigidly secured across said mouth opening and movable blades and having Water passages through said fixed blades, a frame carrying said movable blades and journaled 10 in the ends of said head, a pipe leading to said Water passages and means connected with said frame for imparting reciprocatory motion to said movable blades.

Signed at the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, July, 1913.

JOHN REID. Witnesses:

THOMAS DORIAN, N. MOHUGIL,

emtee at Mile watemt may he ebteilmed for five cente eaeh, by addressing the fflommieeiener e? mam,

aemmmeu, a. Q.

Canada, this sixteenth day of 15 

